New York – With its unrivaled slate of MLB postseason games, college football and NFL action, FOX Sports owns the fall. The network’s loaded lineup reaches its apex next weekend, Friday, Oct. 27 through Sunday, Oct. 29, with the GREATEST WEEKEND EVER featuring the World Series, big-time college football and an NFL doubleheader featuring the Cowboys at Redskins in AMERICA’S GAME OF THE WEEK, plus extensive on-site studio coverage.

A full weekend of non-stop action begins Friday, Oct. 27, with a special edition of FIRST THINGS FIRST live from Columbus, Ohio, from 6:30-9:30 AM ET on FS1. Hosts Cris Carter, Nick Wright and Jenna Wolfe begin the weekend with top stories from around the nation and welcome guests before college football fans turn their attention to Ohio Stadium for Penn State at Ohio State the following day on FOX.

Friday night, Game 3 coverage of Major League Baseball’s 113th World Series begins at 7:00 PM ET on FS1 before shifting to the FOX broadcast network at 7:30 PM ET. FOX Sports’ baseball studio crew of Kevin Burkhardt, Alex Rodriguez, David Ortiz, Keith Hernandez and Frank Thomas are live from the site of the game before Joe Buck, John Smoltz, Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci take the call at 8:00 PM ET.

When the calendar flips to Saturday, Oct. 28, FOX Sports is back in Columbus for a huge battle in the Big Ten East, as Ohio State hosts Penn State at 3:30 PM ET on FOX. Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt and Jenny Taft call the action from the Horseshoe, while studio host Rob Stone and analysts Matt Leinart, Robert Smith and Dave Wannstedt are live from the field for pregame, halftime and postgame beginning at 3:00 PM ET. BTN TAILGATE provides additional coverage in Columbus beginning at 10:00 AM ET, as Dave Revsine, Gerry DiNardo, Anthony Adams, Stanley Jackson and Michelle McMahon are live from the RPAC on Ohio State’s campus. Once the final whistle blows in Ohio, FOX’s football-baseball doubleheader continues with coverage of World Series Game 4 beginning at 7:30 PM ET.

Sunday, Oct. 29, is anything but a day of rest for FOX Sports with more football and baseball on the schedule. The day begins with FOX NFL KICKOFF at 11:00 AM ET, followed by America’s No. 1 NFL pregame show, FOX NFL SUNDAY, at 12:00 PM ET. Regionalized NFL coverage kicks off at 1:00 PM ET, followed by the Dallas Cowboys at Washington Redskins in AMERICA’S GAME OF THE WEEK at 4:25 PM ET. If necessary, Game 5 of the World Series on FOX closes out the GREATEST WEEKEND EVER with coverage beginning live from site at 7:30 PM ET before first pitch at 8:00 PM ET.
The fun continues even after the weekend ends with the MLS Eastern Conference semifinal first leg on Monday, Oct. 30, and the MLS Western Conference semifinal first leg on Tuesday, Oct. 31. Potential Games 6 and 7 of the World Series on FOX air Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.

UFC TONIGHT host Daniel Cormier on his beef with Tony Ferguson: “You told me, Kenny Florian, welcome to the world of the commentator. I don’t know what I did to the guy. After the fight, my phone just started pinging. Maybe it was because I said I thought Conor McGregor’s next fight would be the Diaz fight and not with Tony.”

UFC TONIGHT Kenny Florian on if Conor McGregor should fight Tony Ferguson next: “Diaz vs. Conor is the bigger fight money-wise. But as far as the fight that should happen, it’s Conor vs. Tony. Ferguson has done everything he’s supposed to. Conor needs to appease the fans. If he goes out and fights Tony and beats him, he quiets everyone.”

Cormier on if Ferguson should get the McGregor fight: “First off, Tony, great performance. But to say Conor is only talk is not true. Conor’s backed it up. He beat Aldo, then beat Eddie Alvarez. It’s not all talk. But I believe the fight between Conor and Tony now will happen. But you’ve got to be careful, Tony – what you ask for isn’t always what’s best for you. I think Conor might have seen something in that fight and is ready for it now. I think they both have to make some strategic adjustments.”

Cormier on what Derek Brunson needs to do against Lyoto Machida: “We need to see the guy who fought against Yoel Romero, who used his wrestling to dominate an Olympic silver medalist, who’s had success against the highest level of competition. The guy we don’t want to see is the guy who hangs his chin up in the air and tries to chase knockouts. All the success he’s had knocking people out does leave him exposed and he needs to show patience and use his striking to secure the takedowns. Lyoto has to stand back at range and wait for Brunson to make a mistake. As we’ve seen, Lyoto is a classic sniper.”

Florian on what Machida needs to do to beat Brunson: “I want to see the guy who uses his footwork, who switches his stances back and forth. I want to see the counter striking and also he’s going to need some more tricks. He’s been out for a couple of years. The game evolves, so he’s going to need some new tricks, especially if the fight hits the mat. Maybe some new submissions or other ways to get back to his feet.”

Cormier on who Demetrious Johnson should fight next: “I’d say the loser between Cody Garbrandt vs. TJ Dillashaw. He needs a high-level guy. Both have said they could go down in weight to challenge him. The loser can walk into a title fight at the lower division. It’s a competitive fight, like Frankie Edger did going to 145. That would be an exciting fight.”

Florian on who Johnson should fight next: “I say give him a catch-weight fight at 130 pounds between the winner of Garbrandt vs. Dillashaw. It would be the fight that would give DJ the payday. It would put the nail in the coffin of all the people saying he’s not the best pound-for-pound champion.”

Cormier on if Michael Bisping’s trash talking is getting to Georges St-Pierre: “When I watch them together, I think that might be working. I worked one weekend with Bisping and I wanted to fight him. I think it’s getting to him. He’s getting physical. If Mike wants to poke and prod you, it’ll drive him up a wall.”

Florian on if GSP is handling the trash talking: “We forget he’s fought for a long time. He’s experienced this before. Others have trash talked him. Diaz was talking trash. Hardy was talking trash. But if there’s one guy who annoys him more, it’s Bisping. I don’t think it’s a big deal. But they have to see each other over and over and it might be getting to him. And it’s not even fight week.”

Julianna Pena on if she’ll come back after having her baby: “Definitely. People are saying I’m retired. But that’s definitely not the case for me. I’ll take eight months to a year to come back. It’s selfish to be in a fight camp. You’re a crazy person already. I want to get that bonding experience with that kid for that first year before I come back.”

Pena on the other women who have had kids and fought again: “Those women are inspirations to me. Davis, McMann, Waterson. They’re moms and they fight ferociously. It’s going to be such an amazing comeback for me, to show other women who are watching because I’m a mother now. It’ll be very important to be a role model for women that you can be brave and show them they can do things they don’t think they can do.”

Pena on who she’ll fight when she comes back: “I think I got a little too far ahead of myself before my last fight. I’ll take whichever fight I can when I come back. I’d love to rematch Valentina Shevchenko.”

Pena on if she’d fight at 135 or go to 125: “I still have a lot to prove at 135. I’m not trying to move down to be the bigger fighter. I’m afraid of no one in the 135 division. And who knows if I’ll be able to make 135 after the baby?”

Documentary Honors 25th Anniversary of THE SIMPSONS’ “Homer at the Bat”

NEW YORK, NY – Twenty-five years after THE SIMPSONS’ “Homer at the Bat” originally aired, America’s favorite family once again forays into America’s favorite pastime. In advance of the network’s 20th year broadcasting the World Series, FOX Sports today announced that a comedic “Simpsonized” documentary, SPRINGFIELD OF DREAMS: THE LEGEND OF HOMER SIMPSON, will air adjacent to regional NFL broadcasts on Sunday, Oct. 22 on FOX. The World Series presented by YouTube TV begins Tuesday, October 24 on FOX.

The one-hour special celebrates the legendary episode “Homer at the Bat,” in addition to Homer Simpson’s “induction” into The National Baseball Hall of Fame earlier this year. A satire of Ken Burns’ epic documentary, “Baseball,” the special features interviews from eight Major League Baseball players appearing in the original episode, along with baseball historians, sportscasters, and iconic personalities, such as FOX Sports’ Joe Buck, sports announcer Bob Costas, author George Will, Dr. Oz, fashion consultant and television personality Tim Gunn and New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio. Current Yankee slugger and Major League Baseball AL MVP candidate Aaron Judge appears in the special.

The feature also contains six minutes of never-before-seen original animation from THE SIMPSONS, including character “interviews” from Homer, Moe, Chief Wiggum and Apu, voiced by Dan Castellaneta and Hank Azaria.

Directed by Academy Award nominee Morgan Spurlock, the documentary is produced by FOX Sports Originals.

“We’re glad Morgan is strange enough to take this on,” said James L. Brooks, Executive Producer, The Simpsons.

“I love THE SIMPSONS so much and am proud to be reunited with them on this incredible special. A special so special that it not only celebrates Springfieldian Homer Simpson, but one that reminds us all, that maybe if we tried a little less, great things can happen,” said Spurlock.

FOX Sports features live regionalized NFL coverage at 1:00 PM ET and 4:05 PM ET with NFL broadcasts available in both competing teams’ home markets, as well as select additional cities around the country. Viewers with an NFL matchup airing at 1:00 PM ET get to watch the documentary at 4:30 PM ET; viewers with an NFL matchup airing at 4:05 PM ET get to watch the documentary at 3:00 PM ET. “Springfield of Dreams” also airs on Friday, Oct. 20 at 6:00 PM ET on FS1.

“Collaborating with Morgan Spurlock has been an ideal fit for FOX Sports Originals,” said Charlie Dixon, FS1/FS2 EVP of Content. “Working together has allowed us to showcase our partnership with Major League Baseball in a creative and unconventional way.”

Also that night, the annual Halloween-themed “Treehouse of Horror XXVIII” episode of THE SIMPSONS airs. Maggie becomes possessed by an ancient demon, Lisa discovers a creepy/perfect version of her family in an alternate universe and Homer cannibalizes himself in the all-new “Treehouse of Horror XXVIII” episode of THE SIMPSONS airing Sunday, Oct. 22 (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT). Ben Daniels (THE EXORCIST), director William Friedkin (“The Exorcist”) and chef Mario Batali make guest-voice appearances.

ABOUT THE SIMPSONS:
The longest-running scripted show in television history, THE SIMPSONS exploded into a cultural phenomenon in 1990 and has remained one of the most groundbreaking and innovative entertainment franchises, recognizable throughout the world. Currently airing its record-annihilating 29th season, THE SIMPSONS has won 32 Emmy Awards, 34 Annie Awards, a 2017 People’s Choice Award, was the first animated series to win a Peabody Award, and was nominated for an Academy Award in 2012 for the theatrical short “The Longest Daycare.” The Simpsons Movie was a hit feature film, their mega-attraction The Simpsons Ride at Universal Studios has received historic expansion updates with the addition of ‘Springfield’ and the show was honored with a Star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2000. It has been named the “Best Show of the 20th Century” by Time Magazine, called the “Greatest American Sitcom” by Entertainment Weekly in 2013, and declared “The Best TV Show Ever” in 2016 by Vulture.com.

THE SIMPSONS is a Gracie Films Production in association with 20th Century Fox Television. James L. Brooks, Matt Groening, and Al Jean are the Executive Producers. The Gracie Films Worldwide Brand Division develops and produces the licensed content for the series.

ABOUT FOX SPORTS
FOX Sports is the umbrella entity representing 21st Century FOX’s wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets. Built with brands capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, FOX Sports includes ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing partnerships. FOX Sports includes the sports television arm of the FOX Broadcasting Company; FS1, FS2; FOX Sports Regional Networks, their affiliated regional web sites and national programming; FOX Soccer Plus; FOX Deportes and FOX College Sports. In addition, FOX Sports also encompasses FOX Sports Digital, which includes FOXSports.com and FOX Sports GO. Also included in the Group are FOX’s interests in joint-venture businesses Big Ten Network and BTN 2Go, as well as a licensing agreement that established the FOX Sports Radio Network.

ABOUT WARRIOR POETS
Warrior Poets is a New York-based production company founded in 2004 by Academy Award® nominated filmmaker Morgan Spurlock. His first film, SUPER SIZE ME, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2004, winning Best Directing honors. The film went on to win the inaugural Writers Guild of America Best Documentary Screenplay award as well as garner an Academy Award nomination for Best Feature Documentary. Since then he has directed, produced, and distributed multiple film and TV projects, including COMIC CON: EPISODE IV, THE GREATEST MOVIE EVER SOLD and WHERE IN THE WORLD IS OSAMA BIN LADEN? Spurlock and his partners, Jeremy Chilnick and Matthew Galkin, have produced multiple award winning films, digital series, and television programs, with recent credits including the Oscar shortlisted THE EAGLE HUNTRESS, IDA award-winning CNN series MORGAN SPURLOCK: INSIDE MAN and Toronto International Film Festival official selection SUPER SIZE ME 2: HOLY CHICKEN!.

LOS ANGELES, CA – Saturday’s Premier Boxing Champions on FOX, featuring two exciting title fights, peaked with 2,263,000 million viewers from 7:30 PM ET – 7:45 PM ET on Saturday, according to Nielsen Media Research. Featherweight world champions Leo Santa Cruz and Abner Mares were both victorious in title fights from StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., officially setting up a 2018 world championship rematch between the two popular southern California champions.

Game 3 Peaked with 7,096,000 Viewers on FS1

NEW YORK, NY – The 2017 American League Championship Series presented by Camping World between the New York Yankees and Houston Astros is off to a strong start, averaging 5,815,000 through three games on FOX & FS1, according to Nielsen Media Research. The series is up +57% over the 2016 ALCS (3,705,000), and is off to its best start since 2013.

With the Astros notching the first two wins of the series, Game 3 in the Bronx delivered 5,393,000 viewers across FS1 (5,108,000), FOX Deportes (200,000) and FOX Sports GO (85,000).

On FS1, the primetime matchup was up +19% over Game 3 of the 2016 ALCS that ran in the same window (4,287,000). The game peaked from 9:30 to 9:45pm ET with 7,096,000 viewers.

FOX Deportes’ coverage was up +41% over Game 3 of the 2015 ALCS contest between the Kansas City Royals and Houston Astros (142,000), airing on FOX Deportes. The 2017 ALCS on FOX Deportes is averaging 178,000 viewers, up +89% over the 2015 ALCS (90,000).

On FOX Sports GO, Game 3 was the best performing contest of the 2017 ALCS thus far, up +13% over the series average to-date (75,000). Last night’s matchup also recorded a total of 18,340,900 minutes streamed.

LOS ANGELES, CA – As part of its massive lineup of production technology, including up to 41 cameras and 121 microphones, FOX Sports is deploying a battery of eight Motion Cameras for the network’s 20th year of World Series presented by YouTube TV coverage, which begins Tuesday, Oct. 24 on FOX.

“We will have eight Super Slow Motion and Hyper Motion Cameras, including the FOX Phantom Cameras, at either side of the plate to capture at-bats and close plays at a blistering 1,500 frames per second,” said Michael Davies, FOX Sports SVP of Field & Technical Operations. “Quite simply, it’s more Motion Cameras in play than at any other baseball game on any network this season.”

FOX Sports continues the groundbreaking audio work it introduced earlier this season at the MLB All-Star Game, placing 14 underground microphones strategically around the playing field. With 80-plus game-action microphones in play on-site, an additional 15 to 20 mics are available for managers, coaches, umpires and players.

In addition, FOX Sports is teaming with SMT and MLBAM to provide an in-perspective strike zone for both live action and replays. SMT provides a live strike zone that incorporates data captured using MLBAM Statcast radar technology. This data shows pitch speed and location in real time. For replay sequences FOX Sports is using MLBAM’s Pitchcast system. This system, which made its debut during the ALDS, shows pitch speed, location and ball trails, while splitting the data into different varieties. Whether it’s showing all first-pitch strikes, pitch sequences to a certain batter or other specific data, FOX Sports has the strike zone covered.

The FOX Sports 113th World Series tech initiatives are the latest effort from FOX Sports Lab, a designed approach to exploring technical partnerships that give viewers a fresh perspective and ad sales teams more targeted sports integrations.

FOX SPORTS WORLD SERIES TECH BY THE NUMBERS

Staff & Support
140+ technicians
36 support staff
126+ man-hours over nine days

No. 7 Wisconsin and No. 21 Michigan State Highlight BTN Schedule

Four of the top teams in the nation play on FS1 Saturday in a day-to-night quadrupleheader, kicking off at 12:00 PM ET and running through Midnight. A full day of action begins in Manhattan, Kan., as No. 6 TCU, the Big 12’s only remaining undefeated team, faces K-State. Joe Davis, Brady Quinn and Bruce Feldman have the call from Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium.

In prime time, No. 9 Ohio State heads west to Nebraska to face the Cornhuskers at 7:30 PM ET. FOX Sports’ lead college football broadcast team of play-by-play announcer Gus Johnson, analyst Joel Klatt and sideline reporter Jenny Taft are in Lincoln to call the action.

Rounding out FS1’s Saturday slate, No. 14 Oklahoma State hosts Baylor at 3:30 PM ET, called by Justin Kutcher, Petros Papadakis and Mark Helfrich; and Oregon visits No. 23 Stanford at 11:00 PM ET, with Tim Brando, Spencer Tillman and Holly Sonders on the call. Throughout the day, studio host Rob Stone and analysts Matt Leinart, Robert Smith and Dave Wannstedt present the latest highlights and analysis between games and during halftimes.

This week’s full schedule of games on FS1, FSN and BTN, including broadcasters, can be found HERE.

In 2017, FOX Sports televises top games from the Big 12, Big Ten and Pac-12 conferences. FOX Sports is home to some of the biggest matchups of the season, including Ohio State at Michigan, Oklahoma at Oklahoma State in the annual Bedlam rivalry, and Texas at USC in the first rematch of the 2006 BCS National Championship Game. FOX Sports is also home to the Big Ten and Big 12 championship games and the Foster Farms Bowl and San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl.

NEW YORK, NY – The New York Yankees’ epic comeback to defeat the Cleveland Indians in the 2017 American League Division Series scored record-breaking viewership, securing the 2017 ALDS as the most-watched LDS in FS1 history with an average audience of 3,809,000 viewers over the seven Yankees-Indians and Red Sox-Astros games on the network, according to Nielsen Media Research.

This year’s ALDS is up +3% over last year’s NLDS on FS1 (vs. 3,690,000), and up +36% over 2015’s ALDS on FS1 (vs. 2,795,000).

Wednesday’s incredible Game 5 between the Yankees and Indians posted 7,610,000 viewers across FS1 (7,261,000), FOX Deportes (207,000) and FOX Sports GO (142,000); the most-watched LDS game ever on each platform. The game peaked from 11:15 to 11:30 PM ET with 9,175,000 viewers on FS1.

On FS1, last night’s game was the third most-watched telecast in FS1 history and the most-watched telecast since Cubs-Dodgers Game 6 of the 2016 NLCS. It also ranks as the most-watched ALDS game on any network since 2011.

FS1 and FOX Deportes air Game 1 of the American League Championship Series between the New York Yankees and Houston Astros live from Minute Maid Park on Friday, Oct. 13, with coverage beginning at 7:00 PM ET.

Fans can live stream the fights on FOX Sports GO, available in English or Spanish through the FOX or FOX Deportes feeds. The fight is available on desktop at FOXSportsGO.com and through the app store, or connected devices including Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Xbox One and Roku. In addition, fights are also available on FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83 on satellite radios and on the SiriusXM app.

Film Makes Television Debut Following Game 1 of the ALCS

NEW YORK, NY – While the Chicago Cubs’ unbelievable World Series run captivated audiences last October, historic Wrigley Field was home to another incredible series last summer. Pearl Jam’s sold-out August 2016 shows from Wrigley Field are immortalized in LET’S PLAY TWO, a concert film making its television debut Friday, Oct. 13 at 11:30 PM ET on FS1.

The feature-length, two-hour film with limited commercial interruptions airs in its entirety on Friday following Game 1 of the American League Championship Series, followed by a late night replay Sunday, Oct. 15 at Midnight ET on FS1.

Providing additional context for the film, Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder, a Chicago native and avid Cubs fan, sat down with FOX Sports’ Joe Buck to discuss the band’s connection to the city, their incredible Wrigley Field shows and the indelible impact of the Cubs’ World Series win on sports fans and the city of Chicago.

LET’S PLAY TWO was directed by Danny Clinch and produced by FOX Sports, Monkeywrench Productions, Tourgigs Productions, Universal Music Publishing Group, Republic Records and Major League Baseball in collaboration with Milkt Films and Polygram Entertainment.

Amazon Music also features exclusive bonus clips from the concert, including video performances of the single “Mind Your Manners” from the band’s 2013 release, Lightning Bolt, and “Rearviewmirror” from the 1993 hit album, Vs. Fans can also stream and download the “LET’S PLAY TWO” soundtrack on Amazon Music Unlimited. To learn more, visit: http://amzn.to/2gxB8Pb